Insider: Dolphins Preseason Blog

Bad Injury Timing For Garrard

It must feel like the good ole’ days for Miami Dolphins quarterback David Garrard. Well, maybe the days weren’t so good but certainly familiar. Last season Garrard topped the Jaguars depth chart in front of their first-round pick, who would eventually win the job and assist in his release.

In 2011 Garrard was nursing a back injury through training camp which slowed him, and he later used the injury as blame for his release.

Fast forward to last week and Garrard found himself at the top of the Dolphins depth chart, ahead of Matt Moore and first-round pick Ryan Tannehill, and he decided to undergo a knee scope that could keep him out for a month.

It’s difficult to win a starting quarterback job for veteran with a limited ceiling over a first-round draft pick. The task is tougher when the rookie’s former collegiate head coach is the team’s offensive coordinator and he knows the offense better than anyone. The task becomes exponentially more difficult when you can’t compete against the rookie in practice or in games.

The biggest knock on Dolphins rookie signal caller Ryan Tannehill coming out of college was his limited experience at the position as he began his Texas A & M career as a wide receiver. Many believed that Tannehill would need a minimum of a year on the bench to learn before he would be able to acclimate to the speed of the NFL game. After a composed performance on Friday which saw him account for the team’s only points, Tannehill appeared to be capable of handling himself at the position.

It’s a mystery to many where and when Garrard injured his knee. Either bad luck or unbelievably poor timing was in play but regardless the 34-year old signal caller appears to have a better chance at an injury settlement rather than a starting job. This recent history of injuries over competition is giving Garrard a bad name in league circles and it won’t help him when it’s time to negotiate his next deal.

Rough Week For Johnson

Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson was trying to return to the form on the football field which allowed him the attention he’s received off it. This past week Chad was often the center of attention, but for the wrong reasons.

On Tuesday’s edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks, Johnson spit a series of expletives that would make Jets head coach Rex Ryan proud. This drew the ire of Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin.

“I expressed to Chad that you’re in a position to influence people. Use it as a positive,” Philbin said. “There’s a right way to kind of represent this organization and yourself, and a way that’s not going to be us.”

After an underwhelming zero catch performance in the Dolphins 20-7 preseason opening loss to Tampa Bay, Johnson then made more headlines as he was arrested Saturday night on a charge of domestic violence against his new bride. Johnson allegedly head-butted his wife following a dispute over her discovery of a receipt for the purchase of prophylactics.

Johnson was released on $2500 bond Sunday afternoon.

“I have not spoken with Chad Johnson yet,” Joe Philbin said. “However, I do plan to meet with him in the relatively near future… At this point, and until I speak with Chad directly, it would be premature for me to make any comments about the situation.”

With the Dolphins about to embark on a full rebuilding project the future of Johnson in Miami was tenuous at best prior to the indiscretion. The team has employed a new coaching staff which is trying to weed out nonsense and Chad nearing the twilight of his career, seems to be stepping up the off the field distractions.

“I don’t give a f…! I don’t give a f… about my career!” Johnson reportedly yelled after the alleged incident with his wife Saturday night.

With his actions over the past week it really appears he doesn’t care about his career. The Dolphins certainly didn’t either as he was released Sunday evening.

Charlie Bernstein is the NFL Insider for SportsTalkFlorida.com and ESPN 1080 and 1040 in Orlando/Tampa and Editor-in-Chief of Sports Media Interactive, covering the National Football League, NCAA, and National Basketball Association. Charlie covers the Jacksonville Jaguars for FoxSports and has been featured on the NFL Network and Sirius NFL Radio. Charlie is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Charlie on Twitter @nflcharlie